Krafton and Unknown Worlds Entertainment reach a legal settlement over bonuses tied to Subnautica 2, ending a months-long dispute that followed the acquisition-era agreement for incentive payments. Sources report that Unknown Worlds CEO Ted Gill and the studio’s co-founders were part of the settlement. Gill had been fired by Krafton after a dispute over a reported $250 million bonus payout, then reinstated following a judge’s order in March 2026. Multiple outlets say the court action was linked to allegations that Krafton’s leadership consulted ChatGPT on how to avoid paying the bonuses. As part of the settlement announced in early July, Krafton agrees to pay the Subnautica 2 team’s bonuses in full. The payment is structured as three annual installments, with Gill describing the compensation as including additional incentives as the game continues receiving updates. In connection with the agreement, Gill steps down from the CEO role again, saying the companies are seeking new leadership to move the studio forward. The settlement concludes the litigation that had affected Subnautica 2’s development schedule and resulted in the period of leadership upheaval at Unknown Worlds.
Krafton settles Subnautica 2 dispute, CEO Ted Gill resigns after bonuses reinstated
Krafton and Unknown Worlds Entertainment reach a legal settlement over bonuses tied to Subnautica 2, ending a months-long dispute that followed the acquisition-era agreement for incentive payments. So...
- Krafton and Unknown Worlds Entertainment agree on a legal settlement ending the Subnautica 2 bonus dispute.
- Unknown Worlds CEO Ted Gill was fired, reinstated by a judge in March 2026, and later resigns again as part of the settlement.
- Krafton agrees to pay the Subnautica 2 team bonuses in three annual installments.
- Gill states the companies plan to pursue new leadership to move the studio forward.
- The dispute originated after Krafton declined to pay bonuses reportedly tied to about $250 million, and involved allegations about advice sought via ChatGPT.
Shake hands with the nearest underwater critter. The Subnautica 2 legal dispute appears to finally have reached its ultimate conclusion, with a settlement agreed between publishers Krafton and the three Unknown Worlds leaders they fired last year. One of those three leads, Unknown Worlds CEO Ted Gill, was reinstated to his post via a judge's orders in March. So, naturally, now the settlement's been reached, he's stepping down voluntarily. Read more
3 hours agoThe publisher's ChatGPT advisor could not be reached for comment.
4 hours agoKrafton has agreed to pay bonuses to the entire staff of Unknown Worlds Entertainment, the studio behind Subnautica 2, after reaching a legal settlement with the company’s chief executive and co-founders. CEO Ted Gill told Bloomberg he is stepping down as part of the deal. “We mutually agreed to part ways,” Gill said. The settlement […] This story continues at The Next Web
4 hours agoAfter a year of litigation that resulted in the firing and rehiring of Unknown Worlds CEO Ted Gill, the Korean publisher Krafton Inc. has agreed to pay the entire Subnautica 2 team bonuses in three annual installments. According to a July 1 Bloomberg report, Krafton Inc. and Unknown Worlds Entertainment have reached a "legal settlement" with the Subnautica 2 studio's CEO Ted Gill and its co-founders. As part of the agreement, Gill has resigned, stating that the two companies--Krafton and Unknown Worlds--are searching for a new CEO outside the companies. "We mutually agreed to part ways," Gill told Bloomberg News. "New leadership is the best way for the studio to move forward." Gill explained to Bloomberg that everyone at Unknown Worlds--including those who were there during the Krafton acquisition in 2021 and those recently hired--will be "compensated significantly more" than under the original purchase. How much is unknown, but Gill said that the team will get "further incentives" as Subnautica 2 receives more updates. These bonuses will be paid out in three annual installments. Unknown Worlds filed a lawsuit against Krafton in July 2025 for refusing to pay out $250 million in bonuses. The drama resulted in Subnautica 2 being delayed and Ted Gill being fired, though a judge ruled in March 2026 that Gill be reinstated, blaming the publisher's CEO for consulting ChatGPT on how to get out of paying the bonuses the studio was reportedly owed. Now, Gill is out once again, but the team's getting paid. Subnautica 2, which launched on PC and Xbox Series X|S on May 14, hit an impressive player count one day after launch and sold 4 million copies within four days of release. Despite no longer being employed at the company, Gill was proud of the success. "We're all super excited about Subnautica 2 and its tremendous success," Gill told Bloomberg News on July 1.
6 hours agoAfter being fired over a $250 million payout dispute and then reinstated, Unknown Worlds Entertainment boss Ted Gill is leaving again
7 hours ago
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